Although there are numerous appearance of Hongsa in Thai architectures, little is known about its origin. From ancient murals, pictures, and sculptures, Hongsa share similar traits as a swan. In Hindu religion, Hongsa is also the vehicle of lord Brahma.

Hindu was not the only religion with tales of Hongsa, in Buddhism, Lord Buddha himself was once born as a Hongsa. At that time the Buddha Hongsa was governing 96,000 hongsas.